Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe on Monday spoke with his Japanese counterpart Nobuo Kishi via video call, China's defense ministry said.

The Chinese official said both China and Japan's defense departments should strengthen high-level exchanges and practical cooperation, further expand the content of the sea and air liaison mechanism, jointly manage and control risks, and prevent the escalation of conflicts.

Wei also said China will firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights while urging the Japanese side to wisely take care of historic issues.

Meanwhile, Kishi highlighted the importance of the bilateral defense exchanges and cooperation, saying Japan is willing to make an effort to jointly build a constructive and stable relationship between the two countries.